Warren Steel reduces work force hours

NEW YORK  Warren Steel Holdings LLC (WSH) has reduced its work force hours due to a seasonal slowdown in orders.

"WSH made this decision based on current market conditions that have negatively impacted the companys order flow. As demand can fluctuate during this time of year, the current market conditions were not entirely unexpected," a company spokesman told AMM in an Oct. 11 e-mail. "While this was a difficult decision, WSH had to take the necessary steps to successfully weather the current conditions and to best support the long-term health of the company."

The Warren, Ohio, mill will now run three shifts totaling 120 hours per week, down nearly 29 percent from three shifts working 168 hours per week, a source close to the situation said.

The company could increase hours when demand picks up again. "As current conditions and order flow improve, WSH will reevaluate the state of its business and will make adjustments to work force hours accordingly," the spokesman said.

The company, an affiliate of Optima Acquisitions LLC, produces continuous-cast rounds, squares and rectangles and has a capacity of 500,000 tons per year, according to its website.